History of the Penny Loafer

There are a couple of footwear styles every discerning man should have in his wardrobe. The iconic Penny Loafer is certainly one of them.

Stylish, unpretentious, classic and effortless, this simple shoe has an interesting history.

History of the Penny Loafer design

Did you know the style dates back to Norway in the early 1930s?

After learning his shoemaking skills in America, Norwegian Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger designed a new slip-on shoe. Called the Aurland moccasin is was also knows as the Aurland shoe.

Credit: National Library of Norway.

Taking inspiration from the moccasin shoes worn by native Indians in North America, and the simple slip-ons on the feet of Norwegian fishermen, the first design was born.

Popularity grew and export orders were sent across Europe and America. Esquire magazine even featured an article with photographs of Norwegian farmers wearing the shoe in cattle loafing sheds.

Soon after, the Spaulding family of New Hampshire, USA, began manufacturing a similar shoe, called The Loafer. This name later became a generic term used to describe a slip-on, moccasin shoe.

In 1934, G. H. Bass made his first version of the loafer which he called Weejuns. This appears to be a play on words on the origin of the original designer - Norwegian. A distinctive feature of this new design was a strip of leather stitched across the saddle of the shoe, featuring a shaped cutout.

In 1950s America before trainers were invented, the Weejun became the shoe of choice for young men and students. It became fashionable to keep a dime in the half moon cut out slot of the leather strip. This eventually gave the shoes their colloquial name of Penny Loafer, which is still used today.

The Tricker’s Loafer

For many years, Tricker’s has made various designs of the classic loafer. A firm favourite is the James. A solid construction finished on a single leather sole.

For SS18, we have added a few different loafer styles to our collection.

First is Blair. A robust leather loafer more streamlined than the classic James. Features full leather lining and single leather sole.

Second is Adam. Built on our recently designed flexi welt sole, this particular version is lighter in weight making it more suitable for warmer weather and casual dressing.

Adam in new brown suede

Adam in black MC leather

Produced with the same characteristics of a hard-wearing welted shoe, the flexi welt features the following:

- lighter weight leather sole and leather insole;

- cork filler;

- fully lined just using Castorino suede;

- special light weight reverse Castorino calf suede.

This deconstructed flexi shoe is thirty percent lighter than our standard country footwear. However, it remains as durable and solid as you would expect from shoes and boots produced by England’s oldest shoe maker.

For SS18, we have produced Ava, our first penny loafer for Women. Read more about this style here.